UNDER PROBE

Nine charges were slapped against a businessman this week as police continue investigations into his background.{{more}}

Fifty-one-year-old Leroy Shepherd pleaded not guilty on Tuesday, August 25, to the charge of seeking to recruit workers for Del-Ko Orchard Farms without a license issued under the Recruitment of Workers Act.

Then yesterday, August 27th, Shepherd, whose address was given as Canada and Sion Hill, was hauled before the Kingstown Magistrate’s Court once again, where he was charged with eight counts of obtaining by deception and dishonesty EC$1,300 each from persons wishing to obtain jobs on the orchard farms located in Beamsville, Ontario, Canada.

It is alleged that Shepherd carried out these acts between August 18th and 20th between the hours of 10 a.m. and 5 p.m.

Though he was granted bail for the first offense on Tuesday, yesterday, bail was not granted as prosecutor Inspector Nigel Butcher indicated to Senior Magistrate Donald Browne that authorities are yet to confirm Shepherd’s nationality and believe he may abscond if

granted bail.

The Inspector also said that police believe that more charges will be laid against the man who claims to be a Minister of the Gospel. Browne refused Shepherd bail and he is scheduled to return to court on September 4th.